Citizens’ Committee

Citizens Stakeholders Committee (CSC) Secretariat

In his continued efforts to enhance active citizens’ participation in governance, H.E. President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma setup the Citizens/Stakeholders Committee (CSC) Secretariat to meet one of the recommendations made by citizens of Sierra Leone at the 2012 Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation (SLCDT).

The secretariat is responsible for “maintaining the momentum of change” so that Sierra Leone will realize its 2035 Vision of becoming a middle income country in 25 years and a donor country in 50 years. The role of the Citizens Committee and the Secretariat is to monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation process of the conference recommendations

Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation

“The task of the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation was to rethink the development path of Sierra Leone over the last 50 years, with a view to charting a new trajectory that would take the country into middle income status by 2035. The journey of the next fifty years of independence has begun; and we are gathered here today to map out how we are going to make it better than the journey we made during the last fifty years. This Conference is a moment for solidifying our collective promise to make this country better than we inherited it; and to deliver a country to our grandchildren that is worthy of their admiration, respect, and honorable remembrance of us.” -President Koroma at the SLCDT.

In his opening statements at the launching of the Agenda for Prosperity (AfP) in 2013, President Koroma emphasized the relevance of the conference to the AfP when he said that, “Following the tremendous progress in implementing the Agenda for Change (2007–2012), we embarked on the preparation of the Agenda for Prosperity (2013 – 2018). Prior to this exercise, when Sierra Leone turned 50 in 2011, I constituted a Committee on Development and transformation, charged with the responsibility to take stock of the progress we have made as an independent nation over the last 50 years and to chart the way forward for the next 50 years. The Committee organized the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation, which came up with a number of outcomes; key among them is the aspiration of Sierra Leone to become a middle income country by 2035. In keeping with the aspiration of our people, we commenced work on the Agenda for Prosperity as the first five – year road map towards this forward march.”

The above excerpts from the keynote addresses of President Koroma at the Conference on Development and Transformation, and at the launching of the Agenda for Prosperity, emphasize the importance and strong relationship between the Conference Recommendations and the Agenda for Prosperity. This also shows that the CSC Secretariat is the only entity suggested and authorized by the citizens of Sierra Leone to monitor, evaluate and report on the various implementation processes that will help Sierra Leone realize its 2035 Vision.

CSC Secretariat’s Mandate

The mandate of the CSC is to represent citizens and stakeholders to ensure that they execute the recommendations made by the Citizens of Sierra Leone. so that the country will become a middle income country in 25 years and in the long run (50 years) a donor country. The mandate of the secretariat is to:

Organize and manage the activities of the secretariat through planning of, and reporting on, the measures underway to achieve the goals of the conference.

Prepare and present a biennial report of the implementation of conference recommendations to the Citizens Stakeholders Committee, and for wider distribution to the public in Sierra Leone and in the Diaspora.

Organize a biennial conference to report on progress in consultations with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and other relevant stakeholders.

Provide up-to-date information to the public on developments affecting the achievements of the conference’s objectives as described in the Road Map, through all forms of mass communications.

SIERRA LEONES VISION 2035

Summary of Vision

By 2035, Sierra Leone aspires to be a middle income country with an inclusive society where the rule of law prevails and that provides increased opportunity for: a stable economy with private sector-led growth and good infrastructure to turn a good Idea into a profitable business

A key trade hub in West Africa, with a leading agri-business sector focused around value-added products and a growing services industry.

A model in responsible natural resource exploitation for other African nations to emulate.

A recognized player in the sub region and integrated into the global system with advantageous term.

Every child to go to school and every mother to have access to a modern hospital where she can give birth without fear and extreme poverty will be eradicated.

A socially, economically and politically empowered women;

An attractive culture united in diversity, and assertive at the international level;

An independent and accessible justice system,

A peaceful coexistence where Governments are voted in and out of power based on their ability to meet the aspirations of citizens by setting and delivering their development agenda within the framework of the conference.